Constructional toy



Aug. 28, 1945. w. c. BEILE v coNsTRUcTIoNAL TOY Filed Nov. 20, 1944 Patented Aug. 28, 1945 UNITED. STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

l coNsTRUCTIoNAn roy Walter C.Bei1e, C1iieage,'f111. v Application November 2o, 1944, seri-a1 Ne. 564,204

4 claims. (o1. 4e- 223) l My invention relates 'particularly to a con-` structional. toy of the vehicular type which simulates a normal sized vehicle `such as a railroad car or locomotive.

Objects of the invention reside in the provision of a novel and interesting constructiona-l toy,

particularly of the vehicular type, which `may be assembled and taken apart by a child, which is quite simple and rugged in construction, which is adapted to be constructed mainly of Wood or other non-metallic materiaLwhich is economical as toA manufacture, which involves only relatively large parts so that a child cannot injure itself as by swallowing the same, and which involves a standard wheeled chassis uponwhich -body parts maybe interchangeably mounted.

The inventionl will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing formin a part hereof and in Which- Figure 1 is a sideelevaton of a toy railroad train, the locomotive and cars of which each embody my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the cars;

Figure 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Y'

Figure 4 is an enlarged exploded view ofthe inner end portions of the axle parts as shown in Figures 2 and 3 with one of the parts partially broken away; and

4Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 and showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 represents a toy railroad train comprising `a locomotive, aY

gondola car, a flat car and a caboose,` all of which embody identical wheeled chassis generally designated at I, and .these chassis are adapted to be coupled together in sequence, as generally designated at 2, to form the train. One endV chassis has.a body 3 inthe form of a locomotive detachably mounted thereon, another chassis has a body 4 in the form of a gondola car detachably mounted thereon, the other end chassis has `a body 5 in the form of a Caboose detachably mounted thereon, and the remaining chassis has no body mounted thereon so that it forms a flat car. 4 The uncoupled end of the chassis carrying the locomotive body 3 is preferably provided with a draw cord 6 by means of which the train may be drawn about.

Figures Zand 3v illustrate a chassis having the gondola body 4 detachably mounted thereon as an example of the chassis structure and the detachable mounting of a` body thereon.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, an elongated ilat base 1 is provided with two bores 8 spaced longi- ',mounted onthe base.

tudinally and extending therethrough transversely `thereof in correspondence with the plane of thesame, and the'base is also provided with two bores 9 therethrough of relatively large diameter and spaced longitudinally of and dis-v posed normal to the plane of the base and respectivelydiametrically intersecting the bores 8. Two body mounting bosses II are secured on and project downwardly from the bottom of the gondola Ibody 4 and are spaced longitudinally thereof and have the same spacing as the bores S ofr the base 1. These bosses are of relativelyy large.` vdiameter and are respectively insertable into y the bores 9 whenV the body is detachably The bosses II are provided with diametrical or transverse bores I2 which aline respectively with the bores .8 when the body is mounted on the chassis. The other bodies `3 and 5 embody the same mounting structure as does the body 4 and are interchangeable therewith on a chassis, so that'a detailed description of each body is unnecessary.

Axles are engagedrespectively in the'bores 8 of ythe Ibase 1, land each of these axles comprises two axle parts I3 and I4, each of which is provided with a head I5 at its outer end. Bored wheels I6"are engageable over the axle parts and are axially engageable with the heads I5, and the axle parts I3 and I4 are insertable into a' bore`8 respectively from opposite ends of this bore with their inner ends foremost and into the transverse bore I2 vof the boss II, which is Adisposed in the bore 9 of the base which intersects this bore 8, -to releasably secure the body onthe base, the Wheels I6 on the axle parts being confined between the sides of the base and the heads I5. A second pair of axle parts I3 andvis provided with an axial bore I8 having an.

enlargement I9 adjacent the inner end of this axle part to form a socket, see `particularly Figure 4,V and the inner end portion of this axle part is provided with angularly spaced axially extending radial `slots 2I forming resilient segment portions 22, The inner end portion of the axle part I4 is provided with a ball formation 23 of a reduced diameter approximating that of the enlargement I9 which is adapted to be forced into the bore .IB and engaged in the enlargement I9 to releasably secure the axle parts together and thus maintain the assembly above described, the resilient segment portions 22 yielding as the ball formation 23 is engaged with and disengaged from the enlargement I9. This arrangement is such that the ball formation 23 may be disengaged from the enlargement I9 by moving one axle part out of alinement with the other axle part without breakage.

From the above, it will be observed that the toy may be easily taken apart and reassembled, it being merely necessary to pull the pairs of axle parts apart to take the assembly apart and to push the axialparts together to secure the. parts in assembled relation. Where no body is mounted on a base 'I to form a hat car, the axles merely extend across the bores 9 of the base l. The locomotive body 3 is preferably formed of' separate boiler and cab parts 24 and 254,` each being provided at its bottom with a diametrically bored mounting boss which functions in the same manner as the bored bosses II' abovedescribed.

Each base 'I has an upright stud 2B mounted at one end thereof and each base, with the exception of the locomotive base, has a loop of'ccrdA 21 secured' at the other end thereof, these studsA and loops forming the couplings 2 of Figure l' by reason of the loops being engageable over the studs.

Referring to Figure 5, showing a modiiication of my invention, a flat base 2:8 is provided. with a bore 29 extending therethrough transversely thereof in correspondence with the plane ofl the same, and this base is also provided with a bore 3I' therethrough of relatively large diameter disposed normal to the plane of the base and` diametrically intersecting the bore l28, thisbase corresponding with the base I in that the bore 25 is adapted. to receive axle parts as is a bore 8,' of the base l, and the bore 3I is adapted' to receive a transversely bored body mounting` boss as is. a. bore I.2.of the base l.

Still. referring to Figure 5, an, axle comprises two identical axle parts 32, each of which is, pro-- vided with.l a head 3.3.. Bored wheels 3'4. are engageableover the axle parts 32 and are axially engageable with ythe heads 33 and these axle parts are insertable into the bore 29 respectively from opposite. ends of this bore with their inner ends foremost,A the wheels 34. on these axle, parts being `coniined between the sides of the, base 28 and theheads 3.3.

The inner end portion of each axle partl 321Y is` provided with an axial bore 35 andw-ith angularly. spacedy axially extending radial-,slots 36` forming resilient segment. portionsl 31. The bore 29 is taperedand decreases in diameter inwardly from. the opposite ends. thereof, as designated at-38, so., that theV resilient segment portions 3'!l are-comepressed radially inward by the tapered bore por-- tions 38 and thus cooperate with the bore for,l re.- leasably securing the; axle, parts'V 3-2 engaged in the bore 2.8 with the Wheels 34 confined, between the heads; 3,3 and opposite sides. of the basa; the inner end. portions ot these axle' parts proiectna int@ the. bore, 3iI; to` engage in the transverse bore oi`a1body mounting boss to releasablyjsecure.- a body on the basel 2,8; in the same manner as'preyi.- ously..- described; withreference toF-iguresfZ and 3.. With reference-to.4 Figure 5., itis merely necessarytopull the pairs. of axle parts 32.r out. of. theibore 29, to take the4 assembly aparty and to:V pushi these axle,A partsinto: the bore 29 tosecure.` the; parts! inlassembledrelation.

While I have thus described my invention, do not wish to be limited to the precise details described, as changes may be readily made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a toy of the character described, the combination of a flat base provided with a first bore extending in correspondence with the plane of the same and with a second bore of relatively large diameter disposed normal to the plane of said base and intersecting said rst bore, a body providedwith a boss projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof and of a relatively large diameter and insertable in said second bore and said boss being provided with a transverse bore alineable with said first bore when said body is mounted on said base, an axle part provided with a head at its outer end and insertable into said first bore with its inner end foremost and intosaid transverse bore of said boss, a bored'wheel engageable over said axle part and axially engageable with said head, and means operative to releasably secure said axle part engaged i'nsaid 'rst borel and in said transverse bore of said boss with said wheel confined between said head and base.

2. In a toy of the character described, the combination of a iiat base-'provided with a first bore extending therethrough in correspondence with the plane of the same and: with a second bore of. relatively large diameter disposed normal to the plane of said.' base and intersecting said first bore, a body provided' with a boss projecting d'ownwardly from the bottom thereof and of a relativelylarge diameter and insertable in said second bore, two axle parts respectively provided with heads at their outer ends and insertable into said iirst bore. respectively from opposite ends of this bore with their inner ends foremost, two bored wheels engageable. respectively over said axle parts and axially engageable with said heads, and means operative. to releasably secure said axle parts engaged. in said. first bore with `said wheels confined between said heads and base..

'3. In a toy of the character describedthe.com bination., of a dat base provided withV a first bore extending. therethrough incorrespondence with-v the plane oi the, same and with a second bore of relatively large diameter disposed normalv toy the plane of. said base and intersecting saidl first, bore, a. body provided with a. boss` projecting. downwardly from the. bottom thereof and of. a

relatively large diameter and insertable in saidy second bore and said boss being. provided with., a. transverse. bore alineable with said' firs-t bore when-.saidbcdy is mounted on said base two axle partsV respectively provided with heads. at their outer ends and insertable into said. zrstbore respectively from. opposite ends` of. this bore withtheir inner ends; foremost, and` at least one of said axle parts being, also insertable into said transverse bore of said boss, twoI bored wheels engage. able. respectively over said.l axle parts. and axially engagealolel with said, heads, and means operative to releasably secure. said axle parts engaged.

in4 saidilrstbore and said one axle part. engaged in sai-d transverse bore of said' boss with said wheels confined between. said head and base.

4. In a toy oii the character described, thecom'- bination. of anat base providedwith a first bore 1 extending therethrough in correspondence with' the plane of the same and with a second bore of relatively large diameter disposed normal to the plane of said base and intersecting said first bore, a body provided with a boss projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof and of a relatively large diameter and insertable in said second bore and said boss being provided with a transverse bore therethrough alineable with said first bore when said body is mounted on said base, two axle-parts respectively provided with heads at their outer ends and insertable into said first bore respectively from opposite ends of this bore with their inner ends foremost and into said transverse bore of said boss, two boredmwheels axle parts engaged in said rst and transverse bores with said wheels confined therebetween said heads and base.

WALTER C. BEILE. 

